Looking for some great content ideas for Social media shares to help you get your brand name out there and direct traffic to your website? 37% of users say the top reason they are on social media is to find entertaining content. If you deliver it, you’ll land earn new follows and content shares.
Finding good content takes a multi-prong approach. Compelling social media content can and should come from multiple sources to keep your followers engaged.
Here are seven places you can find great content ideas for social media shares that will help you attract new followers and customers.
1. Engage in Social Listening
What are people saying about you on social media? Social listening and tracking tools allow you to eavesdrop on the conversations potential and current customers are having about your company. It’s no surprise that social listening is one of the hottest social marketing trends — who wouldn’t want unfiltered reactions to their products and marketing efforts?
Tools like Crimson Hexagon and Hootsuite allow you to see what people are saying about your company and the associated sentiment (positive or negative). You can use the data you gather from social listening to inform your future posts. For instance, if people have a lot of positive feedback about humorous posts you should provide more similar content. Is everyone confused about how your website works? Post a few tutorials to help them out.
2. Browse BuzzSumo for Content for Social Media
BuzzSumo is a content curator that offers a lot of insight into what people are sharing online. You can see the analytics for specific links, giving you a look at how many Facebook likes and shares it got and more. BuzzSumo is a good place to find specific, popular links to share and it can also guide your overall strategy.
3.Follow Inspiring Industry Leaders for Content Ideas
What are the most influential people in your industry talking about right now? Let them help you with content ideas for social media sharing. Subscribe to the feeds and emails of industry leaders so you know what the thought leaders are introducing into your line of business/
When you’re the first to share popular blogs and insights you’ll become a reliable source of up-to-date trends for your followers. People are more likely to share surprising and insightful information than the same article that’s been floating around for a month.
4. Foster Relationships with Content Bloggers
At a loss for original content ideas for social media? Enlist the help of a guest blogger. If you work with bloggers who have a natural connection to your line of business, such as using a travel blogger to promote your line of luggage, you can create a long-term relationship. You benefit from having fresh content to share and the blogger benefits by getting some links back to their site. Plus, the guest writer is likely to share your social media post and help you gain exposure.
When you’re looking for a new blogger to create a relationship with, consider how much engagement they get on social media in addition to their level of expertise. Guest writers take some of the pressure off your company to brainstorm and create compelling content and introduce new people to your channels at the same time.
5. Encourage User-Generated Content for Social Media
If you’re looking for a new way to generate popular content ideas for social media, look no further than your own page! Some of your best and most shareable content may come from your followers. You can run a contest on your page asking people to come up with funny photo captions, original artwork, or possible names for your new product to get started.
Posting content created by your own community encourages sharing; in fact, people are about twice as likely to share user-generated content than regular brand posts. Not only are followers proud to be featured on your page, but other users may find content curated by fellow users to be more authentic and share-worthy than a brand post.
6. Get Updates from Competitors
Still, want to spice up your Facebook editorial calendar? Get daily newsletters from other brands in your industry who are nailing it. What type of topics are your top competitors discussing? Keeping a pulse on what’s happening in the world of your competitors can give you ideas about what type of social media content you should be sharing. If your competitor is advertising their presence at a future conference, for instance, it might be time for a Facebook post about your own booth at a future event.
7. Use Compelling Media
Video and photo advertising is increasing for a reason. About four times as many people say they would prefer to watch a video about a product than say they would like to read about it. Organic Facebook traffic is also higher on posts with video and photos. When you’re looking for a way to increase shares, start with revamping the type of media you share! Infographics, memes, and articles with attached photos should all be on your roster.
